Nifong wins back-to-back district spelling bee championships

Pictured are Habersham County Director of Elementary Schools Rhonda Andrews, district runner-up Addisyn Hallford, district champ Kayla Nifong, and superintendent of schools Matthew Cooper.

Kayla Nifong is Habersham County’s repeat spelling champ. The South Habersham Middle School 7th grader won the Scripps District Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 12. It took Nifong sixteen regular rounds and four championship rounds to do it. The winning word was “trodden.”

Clarkesville Elementary School 5th grader Addisyn Hallford is this year’s runner-up.

Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County awarded each of the girls a trophy and Now Habersham awarded them cash prizes. Nifong received $100. Hallford received $50.

The two were among eleven school spelling bee winners who competed at the district level. The event was held at Habersham Central High School Auditorium in Mt. Airy and livestreamed to all of the county’s public elementary and middle schools.

Nifong now advances to the regional Scripps spelling bee competition.